The NBA season finally kicked off last Tuesday night, and I couldn’t be more excited. Here’s my first week assessment.

1. The Indiana Pacers are very good. Lead by superstar Paul George, they’re the only undefeated team left in the NBA. Lets not forget Danny Granger is out the first three weeks of the season nursing a calf injury. Look for them to be one of the top three teams in the Eastern Conference all year.

2. Dwight Howard looks like the Dwight of old. Yes he’s healthy, and FINALLY happy. Dwight is averaging 17.4ppg to go with 14.6 rpg. Expect to see great things from him and star shooting guard James Harden this year. The Houston Rockets biggest question mark to me is their defense, but they can certainly score with anyone in the league.

3. The Golden State Warriors look great. They’re off to a 4-1 start, and they’ll only get better as the season goes on. They have two lights out shooters in Steph Curry, and Klay Thompson that can carry the team on any giving night. Look for this team to continue to grow, and yes people they’re a legitimate NBA Finals team.

4. The Bulls have been awfully rusty to begin the 2013 campaign. As they’re off to a 1-3 start to begin the year. Derrick Rose has struggled shooting 28% from the field. They need to cut down on the turnovers, and score more on offense. Remember offense has been their biggest problem the last several years. No need to panic Bull fans I believe in Derrick Rose and this team.

5. The Suns, Bobcats, and the Sixers will compete every night. So much for the “Tank For Wiggins” idea everyone thought the bad teams around the NBA were doing. As these three teams have competed every night and they’re a combined 9-6. Yes each team is 3-2, but they’ve been in every game they played early on. As the Bobcats defeated the Raptors and Knicks, and the Sixers defeated the Heat and the Bulls. If these teams are planning on tanking they better do it sooner than later. The Suns look like they have a star in the making in Eric Bledsoe. No wonder why they call him mini Lebron. The Sixers look like they found their point guard of the future in Michael Carter Williams

6. The Knicks are sluggish out the gate starting off the year 1-3, and to make matters worse they’ve lost their leader on defense in center Tyson Chandler for 4-6 weeks due to a fractured right fibula. Who will step up while Chandler is out? Will that be Amar’e or Kenyon Martin? Knicks must get their defense in order, and get Melo on track. If they continue to lose games and give up points, how long will Mike Woodson remain the head coach? Lets not forget owner James Dolan expects a championship this year.

The season is still very young, but we look like we’re in store for another great NBA season.

Metta World Peace. Who is a Queensbridge native is heading home. That’s right Metta who was recently amnestied by the Lakers has just signed with the New York Knicks. According to reports the deal for 2-years worth and is worth 3.1million dollars. 2nd year is a player option. Metta will still be paid 7.7million by the Lakers this year. Metta sounds excited he spoke with USA today “The team is amazing.I’m excited to play and hustle. I’m excited to hustle for (Raymond) Felton, for Iman (Shumpert), for Tyson (Chandler), Melo (Anthony), (Amar’e) Stoudemire, coach (Mike Woodson). That’s all it’s about right now. It has nothing to do with New York the city. The only thing that’s important is those players that I will be joining and touching the hardwood with. That’s all that’s important.” Metta brings a defensive mentality that the Knicks will need. He’ll be the tough guy for them as well. It’s a solid pickup for the Knicks. They have already acquired Andrea Bargnani this off-season. Will World Peace and Bargnani make them better than the Heat? We will see, but right now I would have to say no. The Knicks are still a top five team in the East. I still can’t rank them the best team in New York either (Thanks to Brooklyn). But it’s a long season, and anything can happen. I would say for the Knicks to not have any cap room I’d say they had a solid off-season. And if you guys were wondering Metta will wear his father’s old High School number (51) this year.